Cracks in the Fossil-Fueled Facade - March 2025

[1]Caption. Photo credit: xxxMembers of the 350 Network Council, a
coalition of independent 350 affiliates in the U.S., recently met up in
San Diego alongside 350US staff to plan and strengthen coordinated
campaigns. Each 350 affiliate is leading strong local and state-level
campaigns as well.

Hi John,

We are living in scary times.

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and a small group of wealthy elite are taking
sweeping steps to enact a far-right agenda and are trying to sabotage
every effort we’ve taken to stop the climate crisis they helped create.

They are gutting critical climate agencies, scapegoating entire
populations, and trying to erase our ability to keep each other informed
and safe. They want to shock us into defeatism, and they want us to
believe that they are all-powerful.

But the fascists are NOT all-powerful, and their power depends on people,
organizations, companies, and governments complying.

Unfortunately, so far, many key people are giving in to the far-right
demands. But not all. So each month, our 350 U.S. team will be
highlighting a few concrete examples of successful resistance and progress
that should restore some needed hope and agency to our U.S. climate
movement.

Welcome to the first installment of our Cracks in the Fossil-Fueled Facade
newsletter.

In solidarity

- Team 350

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Cities and States Taking the Lead

SPOTLIGHT: Portland, Oregon. Portland started the year with a new city
government that is chock full of climate champions: an astounding 10 out
of 12 city council members are committed to strong climate justice
policies. This is thanks to the education and advocacy work of [ [link removed] ]350PDX,
who hosted voter forum and produced a comprehensive Climate Justice Voter
Guide breaking down where 59 candidates for city office stood.

Oregon also starts the year with their landmark Climate Protection Program
(CPP) policy reinstated, which will reduce large polluter emissions by 90%
by 2050, and 50% by 2035 ([ [link removed] ]via 350 PDX).

* Why this matters for us and should give us hope: Local elections are
often overlooked, leaving a lot of room for strong campaigning and
education for voters. Portland is providing a strong blueprint for
other cities—and towns—to follow. And strong action at the local level
can also pave the way for statewide action.
* Read about how states are leading, from big legislation in NY, to
legal flights in CA, renewables in RI, and even some red state
progress: [ [link removed] ]How states are leading the climate fight despite Trump
(The Guardian)

 

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Cross-Movement Resistance

SPOTLIGHT: Vermont. Climate groups are working to protect their migrant
neighbors. Hear what one organizer has to say about that work:

“We have been working in close collaboration with an immigrant-led
political organization that has called on allies like us to train
non-immigrants, particularly white people, in Know Your Rights and Rapid
Response tools. We have 10 more trainings planned for the next 2 months.
The trainings have been challenging for those of us, myself included, who
have been taught that law enforcement is there to help us. Particularly as
mass deportations require the collaboration of local law enforcement,
those of us who want our neighbors to be treated with dignity must not
help the state harm them.

"Our climate movement’s commitment to justice must be lived through
action. I am the transgender child of an immigrant; fascism requires the
creation of an internal and external enemy. They’re trying to make Trans
people the internal enemy and undocumented folks the external enemy. But
our neighbors are not our enemies, and the climate movement must be a
container of courage. We are fighting for a livable future for all. We
cannot thrive under fascist militarism. The world we are building is
beautiful, with safety and care for each being.”

— Elio Farley, Solidarity Organizer, [ [link removed] ]350 Vermont

* Why this matters for us and should give us hope: First and foremost,
immigration justice is a climate justice issue. And also, this is a
reminder of the power that cities and states retain to slow down or
disrupt the far-right’s attacks on already marginalized communities.
* Read more on why the climate movement should care about this:
[ [link removed] ]Immigration Justice Must Be a Climate Fight, Too (Common Dreams, by
350.org’s Jeff Ordower and NPNA’s Ahmed Gaya)

 

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Standing Up to the Wealthy Elite

SPOTLIGHT: TeslaTakedown. People across movements have organized quickly
to take aim at the wealthy few, like Elon Musk, who are attempting to end
democracy and profit off of mass destruction. Musk heads “The Department
of Government Efficiency,” or “DOGE,” which has quickly gained nearly
unfettered access to government agencies, U.S. purse strings, and personal
data on U.S. residents. Musk heads up many private companies, but he is
most known for Tesla. So organizers, including 350 partner Third Act DMV,
have started enacting a “TeslaTakedown” to protest at Tesla showrooms.

Third Act DMV on their TeslaTakedown action: “We first saw folks
protesting at a Tesla dealership on the Rachel Maddow show. Then at our
350.org organizing meetings, we heard that a partner group was hosting an
upcoming rally in their state. We were worried that we wouldn’t have
enough time to plan our own, but Third Act DMV folks met that Thursday.
Everyone thought it was a great idea, someone did quick artwork, and we
posted on the TeslaTakedown site. By Saturday, we had 60 people out
rallying at each of the Tesla Dealerships in Rockville, MD and Arlington,
VA. We’ve already done more actions, added an additional site, and
recruited quite a few new people to the secure chat we’ve set up to
coordinate rapid response rallies in the DC area. People are frustrated
and feeling helpless, and it’s heartening to see people channel that into
coming together, getting creative with their signs, and figuring out how
to resist.”

Learn more: [ [link removed] ]Check out the TeslaTakedown event page

 

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One Thing You Can Do RIGHT NOW

From freezing climate disaster relief funding to firing climate experts at
the EPA and NOAA, Donald Trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk are
prioritizing profits over people — and it’s putting our future at risk.

Every member of Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — needs to step
up. Join us in telling your representatives that these actions are
unacceptable and we demand more.

[ [link removed] ]Send a letter to Congress »

 

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